I am writing to urge your assistance and to protest in the strongest terms about the treatment of the Viva Palestina humanitarian aid convoy in Al-Arish today. The convoy seeks to ensure that the people of Gaza receive the medical aid which British and European citizens have worked hard to provide for the Palestinian people suffering under Israeli siege in the Gaza Strip.

My understanding is that the Egyptian government is imposing conditions on the Viva Palestina/ Palestine Solidarity Convoy of 210 aid vehicles which make it impossible for all the vehicles and aid to be taken into Gaza through the Rafah Crossing. The aid includes medical aid, food and educational materials. The convoy has now been assaulted by 2,000 Egyptian government riot police and water cannon. This is completely unacceptable treatment of a humanitarian aid effort.

As you may be aware, Viva Palestina is a UK registered charity formed in 2009 to provide humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza. The two previous convoys, which entered Gaza via Eqypt in July and March 2009, successfully delivered hundreds of tonnes of desperately needed aid through the Rafah crossing.

Richard Falk, UN Special Rapporteur stated on 18.12.09 that 'two urgent priorities must be stressed on this dismal anniversary: first, Israel ’s allies must demand, with a commitment reinforced by a credible threat of economic sanctions, that Israel immediately end its illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip. Second, the Goldstone Report’s recommendations, having confirmed the commission of war crimes possibly amounting to Crimes Against Humanity, by Israel and Hamas, must be fully and swiftly implemented.'

Alas, the Egyptian government appears to be aiding Israel ’s blockade of Gaza.

Please convey my request to the Egyptian authorities that the convoy be allowed to travel to Gaza through Egypt and to the Rafah crossing without molestation and assault to show the Palestinian people that they are not forgotten by people of conscience across the world.